USA v. COLLINS

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE MIDDLE DISTRICT OF GEORGIA
ATHENS DIVISION
:
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 	:
:
v. 	: 	CASE NO. 3:24-CR-34 (TES)
:
GERALD SCOTT COLLINS 	:
:
:
Defendant 	:
:
PRELIMINARY ORDER OF FORFEITURE
WHEREAS, on November 10, 2025, Defendant Gerald Scott Collins (hereinafter
“Collins” or “Defendant”), pled guilty to Count One of the Indictment charging him with
Possession of Child Pornography, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections
2252A(a)(5)(B) and 2252A(b)(2);
AND WHEREAS, the Indictment contained a Forfeiture Notice, pursuant to which
the United States seeks forfeiture under Title 18, United States Code, Section 2253:
(a) 	Any visual depiction described in Title 18, United States Code, Sections
2251, 2251A, 2252, 2252A, 2252B, or 2260, . . . or any book, magazine, periodical,
film, videotape, or other matter which contains any such visual depiction, which
was produced, transported, mailed, shipped or received in violation of Title 18,
United States Code, Chapter 110;
(b) 	Any property, real or personal, constituting or traceable to gross profits or
other proceeds obtained from the offense(s); and
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(c) 	Any property, real or personal, used or intended to be used to commit or to
promote the commission of such offense(s) or any property traceable to such
property;
AND WHEREAS, the foregoing property included, but was not limited to the
following, to wit: one (1) a Natac USB Drive 32 GB, (2) a gray PNY USB Drive 32 GB, (3)
a black SanDisk USB Drive 16 GB, (4) a black and gray PNY USB Drive 4 GB, (5) a silver
PNY USB Drive 32 GB, (6) a 4 prong Datalogixx USB drive 256 GB, (7) a black Sandisk
microSD card 4 GB, (8) a black PNY USB 16GB, and (9) a Pen USB Drive 4GB;
AND WHEREAS, the Court has determined, based on the evidence already in the
record, that (1) Defendant has an ownership interest in the following subject property; (2)
that the following property is subject to forfeiture pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 2253; and (3)
that the United States has established the requisite nexus between the aforesaid offense(s)
and 	the 	following 	property, 	to 	wit: 	including 	all 	of 	its 	data/files/images 	and
components: one (1) a Natac USB Drive 32 GB, (2) a gray PNY USB Drive 32 GB, (3) a
black SanDisk USB Drive 16 GB, (4) a black and gray PNY USB Drive 4 GB, (5) a silver
PNY USB Drive 32 GB, (6) a 4 prong Datalogixx USB drive 256 GB, (7) a black Sandisk
microSD card 4 GB, (8) a black PNY USB 16GB, and (9) a Pen USB Drive 4GB (hereinafter
collectively referred to as the “subject property”).
NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED, ADJUDGED, AND DECREED
THAT:
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1. 	Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 2253, 18 U.S.C. § 3554, and Rule 32.2(b), Federal
Rules of Criminal Procedure, the Court finds by a preponderance of the evidence that the
United States has demonstrated the required nexus between the subject property and the
offense(s) of conviction and the subject property is hereby forfeited to the United States.
2. 	Upon the entry of this Order, in accordance with FED. R. C RIM. P. 32.2(b)(3),
the Attorney General (or a designee) is authorized to seize the subject property, and to
conduct any discovery that may assist in identifying, locating or disposing of the subject
property, and to commence any applicable proceeding to comply with statutes governing
third-party rights, including giving notice of this Order.
3. 	The United States shall publish notice of the Order and its intent to dispose
of the subject property in such a manner as the United States Attorney General (or his
designee) may direct. 	The United States may also, to the extent practicable, provide
written notice to any person known to have an alleged interest in the subject property.
4. 	Any person, other than the above-named Defendant, asserting a legal
interest in the subject property must, within thirty (30) days after receipt of notice, or no
later than sixty (60) days from the first day of publication on the official internet
government forfeiture site, www.forfeiture.gov, whichever is earlier, petition the Court for
a hearing without a jury to adjudicate the validity of his alleged interest in the subject
property, and for an amendment of the Order of Forfeiture, pursuant to 21 U.S.C. ' 853(n),
as incorporated by 18 U.S.C. § 2253(b).
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5. 	Pursuant to FED . R. CRIM . P. 32.2(b)(4), this Preliminary Order of
Forfeiture shall become final as to the Defendant at the time of sentencing and shall
be made part of the sentence and included in the judgment. 	If no third-party files a
timely claim, this Order shall become the Final Order of Forfeiture, as provided by FED.
R. C RIM. P. 32.2(c)(2).
6. 	Any petition filed by a third-party asserting an interest in the subject
property shall be signed by the petitioner under penalty of perjury, and shall set forth the
nature and extent of the petitioner=s right, title or interest in the subject property, the time
and circumstances of the petitioner=s acquisition of the right, title or interest in the subject
property, any additional facts supporting the petitioner=s claim and the relief sought.
7. 	After the disposition of any motion filed under F ED. R. C RIM. P. 32.2(c)(1)(A)
and before a hearing on the petition, discovery may be conducted in accordance with the
Federal Rules of Civil Procedure upon a showing that such discovery is necessary or
desirable to resolve factual issues.
8. 	The United States shall have clear title to the subject property following the
Court=s disposition of all third-party interests, or if none, following the expiration of the
period provided in 21 U.S.C. ' 853(n), for the filing of third-party petitions.
9. 	The Court shall retain jurisdiction to enforce this Order, and to amend it as
necessary, pursuant to FED. R. C RIM. P. 32.2(e).
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SO ORDERED, this ______ day of ______________, 2026.
TILMAN E. SELF, III, JUDGE
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
MIDDLE DISTRICT OF GEORGIA
PREPARED BY:
WILLIAM R. KEYES
UNITED STATES ATTORNEY
/s/ Michael P. Morrill
MICHAEL PATRICK MORRILL
Assistant United States Attorney
Georgia Bar Number: 545410
23rd January
s/Tilman E. Self, III
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